Soldiers of tomorrow could be equipped with radios immune to the enemy's attempts to jam communication and able to perform numerous functions that increase a soldier's chances of survival. Oak Ridge National Laboratory's Cognitive Radio Program integrates next-generation communication technology with sensors and computational intelligence capabilities that will make radios incredibly powerful devices. As part of the program, sensors, cameras and microphones embedded in the radio would help a soldier gain total awareness of surroundings, including chemical, biological or radiological hazards. Meanwhile, the software-defined radio system features technology that could periodically ? and automatically ? change the bandwidth and other parameters that make the signal difficult or impossible to jam. The software-defined radio system also allows the unit to quickly assume a new personality, allowing it to become a global positioning device, cell or satellite phone, or a secure first-responder radio. This work is funded by the departments of Energy, Homeland Security and Defense. [Contact: Ron Walli, (865) 576-0226; wallira@ornl.gov]
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